SERVIÇO PÚBLICO FEDERAL MJSP - POLÍCIA FEDERAL DITEC - INSTITUTO NACIONAL DE CRIMINALÍSTICA
SYNTHETIC DRUGS
2018 Report
2018 REPORT – SYNTHETIC DRUGS
1 - GOAL Data collection and systematic analysis are useful tools to understand the illegal drug scenario in Brazil and its impact on public health and public safety. This report aims to describe and analyze information contained in the Forensic Reports issued by the Federal Police in 2018, specifically those in which synthetic drugs were analyzed. Ultimately, the document seeks to be a resource tool supporting the development of informed policies and actions in the battle against the important problem of synthetic drugs.
2 - SIGLAS ANVISA – National Health Surveillance Agency (Agência Nacional de Vigilância Sanitária); DEA – Drug Enforcement Administration (USA); SD – Synthetic Drugs; DITEC – Technical-Scientific Board (Diretoria Técnico-Científica); DPER – Forensic Expertise Division (Divisão de Perícias); EMCDDA – European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction; INC – National Institute of Criminalistics (Instituto Nacional de Criminalística); NPS – New Psychoactive Substances; PF – Brazilian Federal Police (Polícia Federal); SISCRIM – Federal Police Criminalistics Information System (Sistema de Informações de Criminalística da Polícia Federal); SEPLAB – Laboratory Expertise Service (Serviço de Perícias de Laboratório); UNODC – United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime; UFs – Federation Units (Unidades da Federação).
3 - DEFINITIONS Synthetic Drugs (SD): Traditionally the term "synthetic drug" was used to refer to synthetic substances used for abusive purposes such as amphetamines, substituted amphetamines (MDMA and its analogs) and LSD. With the appearance of so-called designer drugs (one of the first terms used to name what is currently understood by NPS) that concept had to be expanded. In this report, the term synthetic drugs covers those considered “classic” or “traditional” (MDMA, MDA, methamphetamine, amphetamine, LSD, DOB and fentanyl), some pharmaceuticals and substances that are found in the context of parties (clobenzorex, GHB, GBL and 1, 4-butanediol) as well as all new psychoactive substances - NPS. New Psychoactive Substances (NPS): The United Nations [1] and the European Union [2] define new psychoactive substances as of abuse potential, either in pure form or a preparation (mixtures), that are not controlled by the 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs [3] or the 1 BRAZILIAN FEDERAL POLICE 2018 REPORT – SYNTHETIC DRUGS
1971 Convention on Psychotropic Substances [4], but which may pose a public health threat. In this context, the term new does not necessarily refer to substances created or synthesized in recent years, but rather to substances that have recently become available on the market. Both the 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs and the 1971 Convention on Psychotropic Substances have been updated more frequently due to the emergence of NPS [5]. In the latest updates, substances U-47700, 25C-NBOMe, 25I-NBOMe, 2C-B and ethylone were included. Strictly speaking, they should no longer be called NPS, but their classification as such will be maintained for purposes of comparison with the data obtained in 2016 and 2017 [6,7]. To facilitate the understanding of this report and follow the current UNODC classification, the NPS will be grouped into 10 groups, among them the 9 groups in the Global SMART Program (aminoindanes, synthetic cannabinoids, synthetic cathinones, phenethylamines, piperazines, plant-based substances, phencyclidine-type substances, tryptamines and other substances). Since the 2017 Report [7], it has been decided to separate synthetic opioids from the other substances group, where they are originally included in the Global SMART Program monitoring. This split intended to enable a more accurate monitoring of the data, in order to observe if there is a possible influence in the country of the opioid epidemic that has been occurring in the United States of America. Mixtures: In some of the examed materials, more than one synthetic drug was identified. In order to keep monitoring these cases, it was decided to create groups referring to mixtures for the collection of data in this report. Mixtures are considered to be only those cases where there was more than one synthetic drug in the same material. The Global SMART Programme: As an answer to the problem of synthetic drugs, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) launched in 2008 The Global SMART Program: Analyzes, Reporting and Trends. The program aims to improve the capacity of targeted Member States to generate, manage, analyze, report and use information on illicit synthetic drugs. National Forensic Laboratory Information System – NFLIS: The NFLIS is a program of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) - Diversion Control Division, which systematically collects drug identification results and associated information from drug cases submitted and analyzed by federal, state and local forensic laboratories in the United States of America.
4 - INTRODUCTION New psychoactive substances continue to thrive at an unprecedented rate in Brazil [6, 7]. Although the NPS market is still relatively small, these substances pose a significant risk to public health and new challenges for illicit drug combat policies.
2 BRAZILIAN FEDERAL POLICE 2018 REPORT – SYNTHETIC DRUGS
In this context, the Federal Police is able to play a relevant role, being able to provide a national prospect as a result of making seizures in all UFs, in addition to having highly trained laboratories and forensic experts for the identification of NPS. Since the 2017 Report, it has been decided to include synthetic drugs in general. This occurred due to the finding of a sudden increase in certain substances considered as traditional or classic drugs in the forensic reports issued by the Federal Police. In the current year it will be possible to assess this increase in a quantitative manner.
5 - FORENSIC REPORTS ISSUED IN 2018 ON SYNTHETIC DRUGS 5.I - Data collection methodology Data collected for the present work were based on the forensic reports issued by the Criminalistics units of the Federal Police across the country in 2018. After identifying all the reports in which synthetic drugs were analyzed, both the examined substance and its seized amount was verified. In some cases the total amount of seized material was obtained either from preliminary forensic reports or police case documentation. The following categories were extracted from the Reports for the preparation of this report: Document (Report, Instrumental Analysis Report, etc.); Substance (MDMA, 25I-NBOH, etc.); Quantity (tablets, stamps, mass or volume) and Group (phenethylamines, synthetic cathinones, traditional drugs, drugs, etc.). This search turned out a number of entries higher than the number of reports, because, in cases where, in the same Report, more than one synthetic drug was identified in different materials, they have been correspondingly accounted for. As an example, suppose that in a same Report, the substances 25I-NBOH (blotters), alpha-PVP (tablets and powder) and 25I-NBOMe (blotters) were identified. In this case, one Report accounts for four different entries. When more than one synthetic drug was identified in the same material (e.g. MDMA and N-ethylpentylone in a same tablet), category Substance inclued all detected substances (in this case N-ethylpentylone + MDMA) whereas category Group read Mixture. Monitoring of NPS mixtures started in the 2016 report [6]. This monitoring is important both in the assessment of public health risks and in the understanding of the traffickers' modus operandi. Table 01 shows the proposed groups used in the elaboration of this report including drug mixtures.
3 BRAZILIAN FEDERAL POLICE 2018 REPORT – SYNTHETIC DRUGS
Table 01 – Proposed groups and mixtures. Group Substances Synthetic cannabinoids AMB-FUBINACA, ADB-FUBINACA e 5F-MDMB-PICA Synthetic cathinones N-Ethylpentylone; 4-Chloro-Dimethylcathinone; 4- Chloroethcathinone; 4'-chloro-PPP; 4Cl-PVP; 4F-PHP; 4-MEAPP; 4- Methylpentedrone; BMDP; Caccure 907; Dibutylone; Dimethylone; Ethylone; Eutylone; MDPHP; MDPPP; MDPT; Methylone; N-acetyl-3,4- MDMC; N-Ethylhexedrone; Pentylone and TH-PVP Traditional drugs MDMA; MDA; LSD; Methamphetamine; Fentanyl; DMT; Amphetamine; DOB; DOET and GHB Pharmaceuticals Clobenzorex and Fluoxetine Phenethylamines 25B-NBOH; 25C-NBOH; 25C-NBOMe; 25E-NBOH; 25H-NBOH; 25I-NBOH; 2C-B; 2C-C; 2C-E; 2C-I; DOC; 25I-NBOMe; N-Acetyl 25I- NBOMe Other synthetic drugs GBL Other substances 4F-EPH Other substances (Opioid) U-47700 Plant-based substances - Phencyclidine-type substances 3-MeO-PCP and Ketamine Triptamines 5-MeO-MiPT
Group Substances Mixture: Synthetic cannabinoids - Mixture: Synthetic cathinone 25I-NBOMe + N-Ethylpentylone and Phenethylamines Mixture: Synthetic cathinone N-Ethylpentylone + 3-MeO-PCP ; N-Ethylpentylone + Ketamine and Phencyclidine-type substances Mixture: Synthetic cathinones N-Ethylpentylone + Chloro Ethcathinone; N-Ethylpentylone + Eutylone; 4-MEAPP + TH-PVP; 4-Methylpentedrone + 4-MEAPP; Methylone + Dimethylone Mixture: Synthetic cathinone and - Other substances (Opioid) Mixture: Pharmaceuticals Clobenzorex + Sildenafil; Clobenzorex + Sildenafil + Sibutramine Mixture: Feniletilaminas 25I-NBOH + 25C-NBOH + 25H-NBOH; 25I-NBOH + 25B-NBOH Mixture: Traditional drug N-Ethylpentylone + MDMA; Ethylone + MDMA; Penthylone + MDMA; and Synthetic cathinone N-Ethylpentylone + MDPPP + MDMA Mixture: MDMA and 25I-NBOH +25B-NBOH + 25C-NBOH + MDMA Phenethylamines Mixture: Traditional drugs MDMA + MDA
It is worth mentioning that this report focused on the Forensic Reports issued in 2018 and not on the police seizures of the year 2018. Some Reports issued in 2018 refer to materials seized in 2016 or 2017. Regarding ketamine, it is important to note that only seizures in which the substance was found as a solid or in an unidentified solution with a drug label were included in this 4 BRAZILIAN FEDERAL POLICE 2018 REPORT – SYNTHETIC DRUGS
document. The cases in which ketamine is found as a medicine have been the subject of a specific pharmaceutical report [8]. Another important consideration is the inclusion of the substance dimethyltryptamine (DMT). The substance is found in several plant genera and is not, in principle, a synthetic drug. However, there were seizures of DMT-containing solids by the Federal Police, which led to their inclusion in this report. The remaining cases, such as seizures in which the substance is found in plant extracts, were not included. All reports in which the substance clobenzorex was identified were computed. When the substance fluoxetine was found in the same seizure as clobenzorex, it was also included in the database. In all other cases, fluoxetine was included in a specific Pharmaceuticals Report [8]. 5.2 - Results In 2018, 929 reports on synthetic drugs were produced, equivalent to 1,013 entries, according to the definition adopted. 43 new psychoactive substances were identified (42 in the previous year), 16 of which were identified for the first time: 25C-NBOH, 25E-NBOH, 25H- NBOH, N-Acetyl 25I-NBOMe, 4-methyl-pentedrone, 4-Chlorine -dimethylcathinone (4-chloro- DMC), 4-Chloroethcathinone, DOET, 4-Chloro-α-pyrrolidinopropiophenone (4'-chloro-PPP), 4- Chloro-α-pyrrolidinovalerophenone (4-chloro-PVP), N-acetyl -3,4-MDMC, 3,4- methylenedioxy-N-benzylcathinone (BMDP), N-ethylhexedrone, 3,4-Methylenedioxy-α- pyrrolidinohexanophenone (MDPHP), 3 ', 4'-methylenedioxy-N-terc -butylcathinone (MDPT), 5F-MDMB-PICA and 4-fluoroethylphenidate (4F-EPH). In 2017, the number of drugs identified for the first time was 10, almost half of 2018. Table 02 shows, in red, the new psychoactive substances examined by the Federal Police for the first time starting from 2014 and all those identified from 2016 to 2018.
5 BRAZILIAN FEDERAL POLICE 2018 REPORT – SYNTHETIC DRUGS
Table 02 – All new psychoactive substances identified by the Federal Police in the years 2016 to 2018 and those identified for the first time (in red) in the years 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018. 2014 1 2015 1 2016 2 2017 3 2018 4 25H-NBOMe 2C-P 25I-NBF 25B-NBOH 25C-NBOH 2C-D 5-MAPB 25I-NBOH Fluoromethamphetamine 25E-NBOH 2C-E 6-APB 2C-B-Fly MDPPP 4 25H-NBOH 4 N-Acetyl 25I- 2C-H 6-EAPB 30C-NBOMe MMMP (Caccure 907) NBOMe 5-EAPB MDE 5-APDB 4 Eutylone 4F-EPH 4-methyl- 5-MAPB Alpha-PHPP 4F-PHP Pentylone pentedrone DMPEA Alfa-PVP 4-MEAPP TH-PVP 4 4-chloro-DMC MDDMA Bromomethcathinone Dibutylone4 ADB-FUBINACA 4-cloroethcathinone Ethylamphetamine Chloromethcathinone N-ethylpentylone AMB-FUBINACA 4'-chloro-PPP Ethylone Fluoromethcathinone Flubromazepam3 U-47700 4-chloro-PVP Dimethylone4 AB-FUBINACA 2 Furanylfentanyl 3 25I-NBOH BMDP N-ethylcathinone 4-HO-MET 25B-NBOMe 25B-NBOMe MDPHP 5F-APINACA 4 4-HO-MiPT 25C-NBOMe 25C-NBOMe MDPT N-acetyl-3,4- AB-001 25I-NBOMe 25I-NBOMe MDMC APINACA 2C-B 2C-I N-ethyl-hexedrone 4-AcO-DMT 2C-D 4-FA 5F-MDMB-PICA MMMP (Caccure 4-OH-DMT 2C-I 4F-PHP 907) 5-MeO-MiPT 2-FA 5-APB 25C-NBOMe Etaqualone 4-FA 5-APDB 4 25I-NBOMe Methiopropamine 5-MeO-MiPT 5-MeO-DALT 2C-B 6-EAPB 5-MeO-MiPT 2C-C AB-FUBINACA AB-FUBINACA 2C-E APINACA Alpha-PVP 2C-I DOC Ketamine 3-MeO-PCP Ethylone Chloromethcathinone 4-MEAPP JWH-073 Dibutylone 5-MeO-MiPT JWH-081 DOC ADB-FUBINACA JWH-122 Ethcathinone AMB-FUBINACA JWH-210 Ethylone Ketamine MAM-2201 Furanylfentanyl Dibutylone Methylone JWH-073 Dimethylone MXE JWH-081 DOC N-ethylcathinone JWH-122 Ethylone Salvinorin A JWH-210 Eutylone UR-144 JWH-250 25B-NBOH MAM2201 MDPPP MeO-PCP Methylone Methylethylcathinone (MEC) N-ethylpentylone MMC Penthylone N-ethylpentylone TH-PVP Pentedrone U-47700 Salvinorin A 4F-PHP 25I-NBOH 1 Based on Information n ° 066/2016 – SEPLAB/DPER/INC/DITEC/PF 2 Data included in the 2016 Report - New Psycoactive Report - NPS. 3 Data included in the 2017 Report - Synthetic Drugs. 4 Data included in this report. 6 BRAZILIAN FEDERAL POLICE 2018 REPORT – SYNTHETIC DRUGS
Graph 01 shows a comparison between the number of reports involving synthetic drugs, cocaine and Cannabis/THC. It can be seen that the amount of Federal Police seizures related to synthetic drugs is smaller than cocaine and Cannabis/THC. However, the number of Reports produced on synthetic drugs has almost tripled, from 372 entries in 2017 to 1,013 entries in 2018.
Graph 01: Reports per year Cocaine vs Cannabis/THC vs SD
2018 43% 38% 19%
2017 42% 51% 7%
0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000 3500 4000 4500 5000 5500 Number of Reports
Cocaine Cannabis/THC Synthetic Drugs
The most seized synthetic drug by the Federal Police was 3,4- methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), traditionally found in ecstasy type tablets. Tables 03 and 04 exhibit the synthetic drug ranking identified in Reports produced by Federal Criminal Experts in the years 2017 and 2018, respectively.
Table 03 – Ranking of synthetic drugs identified Table 04 – Ranking of synthetic drugs identified in Reports produced by Federal Criminal in Reports produced by Federal Criminal Experts in 2017. Experts in 2018. Nº of Nº of Substance Group Substance Group Reports Reports 1 MDMA 142 Traditional Drug 1 MDMA 587 Traditional Drug 2 N-ethylpentylone 70 Synthetic Cathinone 2 N-ethylpentylone 158 Synthetic Cathinone 3 25I-NBOH 26 Phenethylamine 3 MDA 81 Traditional Drug 4 LSD 17 Traditional Drug 4 LSD 33 Traditional Drug 5 25I-NBOMe 14 Phenethylamine 5 25I-NBOH 25 Phenethylamine
Among synthetic drugs, the most prominent group was the one containing "classic drugs" or "traditional drugs". In 2017, it was already the group with the highest number of Reports issued by Forensic Experts (49% of the Reports referring to synthetic drugs). In 2018,
7 BRAZILIAN FEDERAL POLICE 2018 REPORT – SYNTHETIC DRUGS
the production of reports for the group increased four times (169 entries in 2017 e 706 entries in 2018) and represented 69.7% of all synthetic drugs (Graph 02). There was also a significant increase in the production of reports referring to synthetic cathinones. Although in 2018 synthetic cathinones account for 18.1% of the reports referring to synthetic drugs (in 2017 they represented 23.1%), there was an increase of 112% in the production of reports containing this group of substances (86 entries in 2017 and 183 entries in 2018). With the exception of the mixtures and pharmaceuticals groups, as well as the aforementioned traditional drugs and synthetic cathinones, a decrease in the production of reports was observed for the other groups. In the following, each group of substances will be discussed separately.
Graph 02: Reports produced per year Synthetic drugs
2018 4.2% 18.1% 69.7%
2017 13.4% 23.1% 45.4%
0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1000 Number of Reports
Plant-based substances Triptamines Other synthetic drugs Other substances Pharmaceuticals Mixtures Other substances (Opioid) Phencyclidine-type substances Synthetic cannabinoids Phenethylamines Synthetic cathinones Traditional drugs
5.2.1 – Traditional Drugs In general, there is an increase higher than the other groups in the number of traditional or classic drug seizures. This is reflected both in the number of reports produced and in the masses / units of seized material. 720 Reports were issued referring to classic drugs (amphetamine, DMT, DOB, DOET, fentanyl, GHB, LSD, MDA, MDMA and methamphetamine). Graph 03 shows the number of reports produced for each traditional drug in 2017 and 2018. Among them, 587 reports identified the substance 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine - MDMA, equivalent to the seizure of 146,489 pills and 75,440 kg of solid (powder or crystals). This represented a significant increase both in the number of Reports produced (see tables 03 and 04) and in the amount of material seized, either in the form of tablets or as a solid (in 2017, 20,091 tablets and 12,587 kg of solid were seized). This data is compatible with the data reported by the
8 BRAZILIAN FEDERAL POLICE 2018 REPORT – SYNTHETIC DRUGS
European Union [9], where the overall number of reported MDMA seizures has continued to increase since 2010. Graph 04 shows MDMA seizures in the European Union, Turkey and Norway.
Graph 03: Reports produced per year classic or traditional synthetic drugs
2.2%
2018 4.5% 11.0% 79.8%
9.2% 3.8% 5.4%
2017 77.2%
0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 450 500 550 600 650 700 Number of Reports
DOET GHB Amphetamine DOB DMT Fentanil Metamphetamine Mixture LSD MDA MDMA
For the second consecutive year, MDMA seizures in the form of crystals, in addition to the well known tablets, stands out, which, associated with data from police investigation, reinforces that there is an increasing use of this form of MDMA. Figure 01 shows examples of MDMA crystals / powder examined in 2018.
9 BRAZILIAN FEDERAL POLICE 2018 REPORT – SYNTHETIC DRUGS
Figure 01 - Examples of MDMA seized in the form of crystals / powder by the Brazilian Federal Police in 2018 (Guarulhos Airport/ SP, Curitiba / PR and Rio Branco / AC, respectively).
Among the Reports produced on synthetic drugs in 2018, MDMA was the most detected compound, while MDA and LSD were the third and fourth, respectively (table 04). In 2017, MDA appeared as 6th in the number of reports referring to SD. Large MDA seizures by the Brazilian Federal Police may be related to the presence in the country of clandestine laboratories synthesizing the substance, as corroborated by recent Police Operations [10]. Regarding the other “traditional” synthetic drugs, permanent monitoring of data related to the substances fentanyl and methamphetamine is relevant due to the current international scenario. In recent years, there has been a marked increase in the number of opioid-related overdose deaths in North America. There is strong evidence that fentanyl and its derivatives play an important role in this crisis. Fentanyl is a powerful and well-established analgesic opioid. However, there has always been concern about its potential for abuse and dependence, and for that reason it has been brought under international control since 1964. Reports pertaining to fentanyl in pharmaceutical products are not new in Brazilian Federal Police cases. However, the detection of this substance and its derivatives in LSD-type blotters, since 2016, has shown a new type of use of this substance in the country. In 2018, 2,001 blotters containing fentanyl (figure 02), 38.26 g of solid and 2.79 liters of solution were seized. Although it still does not represent a large number of cases in Brazil, the Brazilian Federal Police has made efforts to fight illicit fentanyl trafficking at both national and international levels [11].
10 BRAZILIAN FEDERAL POLICE 2018 REPORT – SYNTHETIC DRUGS
Figure 02 - Examples of blotters containing fentanyl analyzed by the Brazilian Federal Police in 2018 (Natal/RN).
According to the 2018 NFLIS report [12], methamphetamine was the drug most frequently identified in 2018 (386,272 reports), followed by Cannabis / THC (344,489 reports) and cocaine (228,924 reports). Due to the large number of notifications in North America, attention is needed to the number of seizures of the substance in the country. Methamphetamine was identified in only 6 reports, which was equivalent to the seizure of 36 tablets and 168.54 g of solid (powder or crystals). Thus, the number of occurrences is still small in Brazilian Federal Police seizures. It is worth mentioning that in 2018, DOET, a substance included in the 1971 Convention on Psychotropic Substances since the 1980s, was first detected by the Brazilian Federal Police.
5.2.2 - New Psychoactive Substances Graph 05 provides information referring only to the Reports in which NPS were identified, comparing the data contained in the 2016 - NPS and 2017 - SD Reports. For this purpose, the data referring to traditional drugs, pharmaceuticals, other synthetic drugs, mixtures: Pharmaceuticals and mixtures: traditional drugs have been removed.
11 BRAZILIAN FEDERAL POLICE 2018 REPORT – SYNTHETIC DRUGS
Graph 05: Reports produced per year - NPS 2.2%
2018 10.9% 15.7% 66.8%
2017 13.2% 6.3% 26.5% 45.5%
2.0%
2016 19.7% 42.4% 17.2%
0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180 200 220 240 260 Number of Reports
Plant-based substances Triptamines Other substances Mixtures Other substances (Opioid) Phencyclidine-type substances Synthetic cannabinoids Phenethylamines Synthetic cathinones
5.2.2.1 – NPS: Synthetic Cathinones
Among the Reports produced in 2018 on NPS, 66.8% were related to synthetic cathinones, being the largest group for the second consecutive year. In addition, it was the category to present the largest number of substances never before analyzed by the Brazilian Federal Police, 10 in all: 4-methyl-pentedrone, 4-chloroethcathinone, 4-Chloro-α- pyrrolidinopropiophenone (4'-chloro-PPP), 4-Chloro-α-pyrrolidinovalerophenone (4-chloro- PVP), 4-Chloro-dimethylcathinone (4-chloro-DMC), 3,4-methylenedioxy-N-benzylcathinone (BMDP), 3,4-methylenedioxyphentermine (MDPH), 3,4-methylenedioxy-α- pyrrolidinohexanophenone (MDPHP), N-acetyl-3,4-MDMC and N -ethyl-hexedrone. With the exception of the substances 4-chloro-PVP, N-ethylhexedrone and N-acetyl-3,4-MDMC, which are already listed nominally in the last update of Portaria SVS / MS nº 344, of May 12, 1998, all the other cathinones identified in 2018 by the Federal Police were classified in the structural chemical class of synthetic cathinones (List F2 item c).
As in 2017, in 2018 the most prominent synthetic cathinone was N-ethylpentylone, the second most detected substance among all synthetic drugs, whose identification by the Brazilian Federal Police occurred for the first time in 2016. In both Europe and the USA, its presence in the illicit drug market was first reported in 2016 [13,14]. The NFLIS-Drug 2018 Annual Report states that the number of Forensic Reports issued in the USA regarding N- ethylpentylone was larger than MDMA (10,380 and 6,616 Reports, respectively) [12]. Other important alerts about the detection of the substance, probably being sold as MDMA, were released by Drugsdata.org (USA) [15] and The loop (United Kingdom) [16].
In Brazil, the substance represented 69% of the Brazilian Federal Police Reports on the group of synthetic cathinones (graph 06), equivalent to the seizure of 5,776 tablets (816 12 BRAZILIAN FEDERAL POLICE 2018 REPORT – SYNTHETIC DRUGS
comprimidos em 2017) and 74.777 kg of crystals / powder (29.524 kg in 2017). Figure 03 shows examples of N-ethylpentylone seized in the form of crystals / powder, similar to those found for MDMA. The increase in the quantity of seized materials containing N-ethylpentylone (2.5 times greater when it comes to crystals / powder and 7 times greater when it comes to tablets) is troublesome, especially after the alert from the Brazilian Toxicological Information and Assistance Centers (CIATox ) on the detection of N-ethylpentylone in the toxicological exams of some patients [17,18]. The observed amount of seized materials and number of Forensic Reports confirms the hypothesis of substitution of ethylone by N-ethylpentylone in illicit drug trade (ethylone represented 49% of the Reports referring to synthetic cathinones in 2016, 8% in 2017 and 0.4% in 2018). N-ethylpentylone was also the most found substance in mixtures with other synthetic drugs (22 Reports, with the substances described in table 01).
Graph 06: Reports produced by year Synthetic Cathinones 3.5% 3.5%
2018 69.3% 8.1% 3.0%
2017 62.6%
0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180 200 220 Number of Reports Mixture: synthetic cathinone and phenethylamines Mixture: synthetic cathinone and phencyclidine-type substances Mixture: synthetic cathinones Mixture: traditional drug and synthetic cathinone Mixture: synthetic cathinone and other substances (Opioid) 4-chloro-dimethylcathinone 4'-chloro-PPP 4Cl-PVP 4F-PHP BMDP Ethylone MDPHP MDPT N-acetyl-3,4-MDMC Alpha-PVP Chloromethcathinone Ethcathinone MMC Methylone 4-cloroethcathinone Caccure 907 4-MEAPP 4-methyl-pentedrone TH-PVP N-Etilhexedrona Penthylone Dibutylone N-ethylpentylone
Figure 03 - Examples of N-ethylpentylone seized in the form of crystals / powder by the Brazilian Federal Police in 2018 (Itajaí / SC, Campinas / SP, and Curitiba / PR 13 BRAZILIAN FEDERAL POLICE 2018 REPORT – SYNTHETIC DRUGS
5.2.2.2 – NPS: Phenethylamines The group of phenethylamines represented 15.7% of NPS Reports in 2018. This value is lower than that found in 2016 and 2017 (26.5% and 42.4%) - Graph 05. The decrease in the number of phenethylamine seizures may be related to two factors: return of LSD as hallucinogenic on blotter papers and preferential use of synthetic cathinones or traditional drugs as stimulants. The first hypothesis is based on the increase in the number of LSD Reports (almost twice as high in the comparison 2017 and 2018), coupled with the decrease in the Reports of NBOMe-like substances. Nevertheless, it remains a prominent group due to its significant number of seizures and for presenting substances never before analyzed by the PF: 25C-NBOH, 25E- NBOH, 25H-NBOH and N-Acetyl 25I-NBOMe in 2018. It should be noted that although the substance N-Acetyl 25I-NBOMe is not nominally listed in the last update of Portaria SVS / MS No. 344, since 12/03/2019 it is scheduled under structure 12 of the phenethylamine chemical structural class (List F2 item d). The most prominent phenethylamine was again 25I-NBOH, the fifth most detected substance among all synthetic drugs, whose identification by the Brazilian Federal Police occurred for the first time in 2016. The substance represented 46.3% of the phenethylamine Reports (graph 07), equivalent to the seizure of 86,401 blotters and 0.051 kg of solid (in the previous year there were 3,962 blotters and 0.106 kg of solid). The number of reports and amount of seized materials corroborates the hypothesis of substitution of 25B- NBOMe, 25C-NBOMe and 25I-NBOMe (61% of the Reports in 2016 and 34% in 2017) by 25I- NBOH in the illicit drug market.
Graph 07: Phenethylamine Reports
3.7% 1.9%
2018 13.0% 46.3% 5.4% 5.4% 2017 10.7% 23.2% 41.1% 3.5%
2016 5.8% 8.1% 23.3% 30.2%
NBOMes 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 Número de Laudos
4-FA 5-APDB 6-EAPB 25I-NBF 30C-NBOMe 2C-B-Fly 2-FA 2C-D N-Acetyl 25I-NBOMe 25B-NBOH 2C-C 2C-I DOC 2C-E 2C-B Mixtures 25E-NBOH 25C-NBOH 25B-NBOMe 25C-NBOMe 25I-NBOMe 25I-NBOH
14 BRAZILIAN FEDERAL POLICE 2018 REPORT – SYNTHETIC DRUGS
Although most seizures are in the form of LSD-type blotters (116,888 blotters), it is important to highlight that a significant amount of powdered phenethylamines was examined (83.74 g). As an example, figure 04 displays two cases of 25I-NBOH seizures, one in Santarém - PA (blotters) and the other in Campinas - SP (powder).
Figure 04 - Blotters containing 25I-NBOH (500 blotters - Santarém / PA) and 25I-NBOH powder (50.72g - Campinas / SP).
5.2.2.3 – NPS: Synthetic Cannabinoids In 2016, synthetic cannabinoids represented the second group with the highest number of NPS reports (19.7% - graph 05). In the years 2017 and 2018, graph 05 shows that there has been a decrease in the number of reports issued for this group. The causes of this reduction are not clear, but may be related to the nominal inclusion of several synthetic cannabinoids in List F2 of Portaria No. 344/1998 (List of proscribed psychotropic substances) and the publication of RDC No. 79, on May 23, 2016, which included in the same list 10 generic synthetic cannabinoid chemical structural classes (generic scheduling). In 2018, a synthetic cannabinoid never before analyzed by Brazilian Federal Police, 5F-MDMB-PICA, was identified. The substance is already controlled in the country, through Portaria SVS / MS nº 344, of May 12, 1998, being scheduled as Structure 9 of the synthetic cannabinoid structural class (List F2 item b). It is worth recalling the warning made in the 2017 Report [7]. From that year on, a new series of synthetic cannabinoids emerged. Previously, these cannabionoids were found mainly in so-called herbal mixtures, probably added to plant material by three possible means: immersion, spraying, or direct powder addition (leading to a more heterogeneous mixture). In rare cases, they were also found in tablets. Since 2017, synthetic cannabinoids have also started to appear on LSD-type blotters and powder form [7]. Data on the use of
15 BRAZILIAN FEDERAL POLICE 2018 REPORT – SYNTHETIC DRUGS
synthetic cannabinoids in blotters are rare both in the specialized literature and in international warning systems. There has been a report that the synthetic cannabinoids AMB- FUBINACA and ADB-FUBINACA were exclusively found in blotters in the State of Santa Catarina, in the year 2017 [19].
Figure 06 - Blotters containing AMB-FUBINACA (22 blotters - São Paulo / SP) and AMB- FUBINACA powder (503.6 g Curitiba / PR).
5.2.2.4 – NPS: Phencyclidine-type substances, tryptamines and other substances. The groups pertaining to phencyclidine-type substances (3-MeO-PCP and ketamine), tryptamines (5-MeO-MiPT), other substances (4F-EPH) and other opioid substances (U-47700) represented the least frequent categories in the Forensic Reports for 2018. Only the substance 4F-EPH had never been previously identified. It is worth mentioning the detection of phencyclidine-type substances (3-MeO- PCP or ketamine) in mixtures with a synthetic cathinone (N-ethylpentylone). Ketamine also has been found mixed with cocaine, a known stimulant. A series of tests available in the literature suggest that N-ethylpentylone acts as a psychomotor stimulant [20]. This mix pattern will be monitored in future reports.
5.2.2.5 – NPS: Plant-based substances, aminoindanes and piperazines From 2016 to 2018, no substances classified in the groups aminoindanes and piperazines were identified by the Brazilian Federal Police. In 2018, no reports were found referring to plant-based substances.
6 – CONCLUSIONS The illicit synthetic drug market remains complex and very dynamic, although it may undergo periods of innovation and stagnation. New substances continue to emerge; some NPS remain in the illicit market for years, and others disappear over time.
16 BRAZILIAN FEDERAL POLICE 2018 REPORT – SYNTHETIC DRUGS
Among the highlights of this report, the detection of 16 new substances is informed, as well as the probable increase in the use of synthetic drugs in the form of crystals, mainly MDMA and N-ethylpentylone. The relevant growth in the general use of so-called traditional synthetic drugs also deserves attention. In addition, it should be noted that different classes of substances are being found in LSD-type blotters, such as: traditional drugs (DOB, DOET, LSD, fentanyl, MDA and MDMA), phenethylamines (25B-NBOH, 25C-NBOH, 25E- NBOH, 25I-NBOH, 25H-NBOH, 25I- NBOMe, N-acetyl 25I-NBOMe and DOC), synthetic cannabinoids (AMB-FUBINACA and ADB- FUBINACA), and synthetic cathinones (4-MEAPP, N-ethylpentylone and TH- PVP). It is suggested that the substances detected in this report that are not explicetely listed in Portaria SVS / MS nº 344, be nominally included in the document, even those controlled by chemical structural classes (generic scheduling). They are N-Acetyl 25I- NBOMe, 4-Fluoroethylphenidate (4F-EPH), 4-methyl-pentedrone, 4-chloroethcathinone, 4- Chloro-α-pyrrolidinopropiophenone (4'-chloro-PPP), 4-Chloro-dimethylcathinone (4-chloro- DMC), 3,4-methylenedioxy-N-benzylcathinone (BMDP), 3,4-Methylenedioxyphentermine (MDPH), 3,4-methylenedioxy-α-pyrrolidinohexanophenone (MDPHP), 5F-MDMB-PICA, MMMP (Caccure 907), Eutylone, 3,4-Methylenedioxy-α-Pyrrolidinopropiophenone (MDPPP) and 4'-fluoro-α-Pyrrolidinohexanophenone (4F-PHP). Finally, attention must be paid to the mixtures of synthetic drugs (Table 01) found in the seized materials. This is the report prepared by the Synthetic Drugs Group of SEPLAB / DPER / INC / DITEC / PF. Synthetic Drugs Group
MÔNICA PAULO DE SOUZA LUÍZA NICOLAU BRANDÃO CALDAS Forensic Expert Forensic Expert SEPLAB/DPER/INC/DITEC/PF SEPLAB/DPER/INC/DITEC/PF
JORGE JARDIM ZACCA Forensic Expert SEPLAB/DPER/INC/DITEC/PF
17 BRAZILIAN FEDERAL POLICE 2018 REPORT – SYNTHETIC DRUGS
7 – REFERENCES [1] LABORATORY AND SCIENTIFIC SECTION. United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime – UNODC. The challenge of new psychoactive substances: A report from the Global SMART Programme. Vienna: United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, 2013. 122 p. [2] European Drug Report 2018: Trends and Developments CChapter 1 : Drug supply and the market (2018). doi:10.2810/800331 [3] United Nations Conference for the Adoption of a Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs. The Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, 1961, As amended by the 1972 Protocol. United Nations 44 (1972). doi:10.1017/S0020818300011620 [4] United Nations. Convention on Psychotropic Substances. Final Act of the United Conference for the Adoption of a Protocol on Psychotropic Substances 1–28 (1971). doi:10.1016/0364-7722(79)90064-X [5]
18 BRAZILIAN FEDERAL POLICE 2018 REPORT – SYNTHETIC DRUGS
[18] Costa, J. L. et al. Analytical quantification, intoxication case series, and pharmacological mechanism of action for N‐ethylnorpentylone (N‐ethylpentylone or ephylone). Drug Test Anal.. p. 1-11, 2018. doi: 10.1002/dta.2502. [19] Boff B. et al. New psychoactive substances (NPS) prevalence over LSD in blotter seized in State of Santa Catarina, Brazil: a six-year retrospective study. Forensic Sci. Int., 306, 2020. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2019.110002 [20] World Health Organization. Expert Committee on Drug Dependence Forty-first Meeting. Critical Review Report: N-Ethylnorpentylone. Geneva, 2018. Available on
19 BRAZILIAN FEDERAL POLICE